Ice making and harvesting apparatus.



E.'T. WILLIAMS.

ICE MAKING AND HARVBSTING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED JUNE-13, 19101,051,297. Patented 12111.21, 1913.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 1 I 4 WWW dild 1) E. T WILLIAMS.

18E MAKZNG AM) HARVESTING APPARATUS.

APfLIUATlN FILED JUNE13,1910.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

WARM AIR SUPPLY WA s Pws COLfl QT/'75 wi/hamom (SOLD AIR SUPPLY OFFICE.

EDWARD THOMPSON WILLIAMS, 0]? BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ICE MAKING AND HARVESTING APIEAIIEtA'I.US.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 21, 1913.

Application filed June 13,1910. Serial No. s'aeso.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD T. WILLIA S,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in thecounty ofKings and State of New York, have invented new and useful"Improvements in Ice Making and Harvesting Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

. quently been experienced in confining the ports.

formation of ice to the precise limits desired, there being a tendencyfor the ice to formby conduction beyond such limits. This ditliculty isonly partially met by limiting the freezing zone and by the use ofwooden sup- Where the ice is harvested by passing warm fluid through thefreezing means, it is obvious that the zone of efiective thawing actionis confined to the freezing and thawing means itself and that it-haslittle effect on any ice formed beyond said limit. In this connection itisto be borne in mind that the thawing operation occupies but a fewminutes, while the freezing operation occupies from 30 to 4.0 hours oreven more where systems of interior ei'ficiency are used. It is obvioustherefore that the normal freez ing and thawing means may be inadequateto thaw out this extra. ice promptly.

in my co-pending application, above referred to, I provide means forthawing any such ice which may be formed below the lower limit of thenormal freezing zone. In my present application I provide improved meansof this character at the bottom of the molds, and have devised alsoauxiliary thaw- 'ing means to assist in harvesting by thawing tionwillbe more fully referred to hereinafter.

Systems for circulating fluids,,as brine, in ice making apparatusincluding piping, a pump, etc., are well known in the art, and completesystems for circulating freezing fluid and for circulating thawingfluid, in cluding apparatus for heating the one and for cooling theother, are illustrated and described in my aforesaid c0-pndingapplication. Ser. No. 554,943, and nothing would .be gained byduplicating such illustration and description in this application.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a plurality ofmolds with the fluid connections therefor. Fig. 2 is an elevation,partly in section. corresponding to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectionalview on the line 3-43. Fig. 1, the probable shape of the top of the icecake being somewhat extive view of one of the molds, parts of the outershell being broken away to show the arrangement of the partitions andopening in the auxiliary thawing chamber. Fig. 5 1s a vertical sectionthrough one of the controlling valves on. the line 55, Fig. 7,

looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig.

6 is a similar section on the line 6-6, Fig. 7, looking in the directionof the arrows. Fig. 8 is a detail View illustrating the means fordelivering air to the bottom of one of the molds.

In the tank 1, are submerged in the water to be frozen upright moldshaving inner walls 2 and outer walls 3, constituting a freezing jacket,the construct-ion of which is no part of my present invention, and mayvary as desired, but is preferably such as to cause rapid circulation ofthe freezing or thawing fluid as by the partition 4. The space betweenthe walls 2 and 3 is closed at the top by a. frame 5 the joints thusformed being water tight. At the bottom it is closed by a similar frame6. Each mold is cold brine return headers 13. Thus far the constructionis not different from that described in my application above referredto.

Adjacent the top of the freezing and thawing jacket I locate anauxiliary thawing chamber 14 formed by extending the aggerated. vFig. 4is an incomplete perspec- Q I i v 1,051,297

walls 23 upward, a frame 5' closing the space between the walls beingprovided.

' The depth of the thawing chamber need not usually be very great butshould be sufli- 5 cient to secure the desired action. In order to causethe thawingfluid to circulate completely around the auxiliary chamber soas to have a uniform action and to aflect all parts of the ice to bethawed,-I prefer to provide a horizontal partition 15, dividing thechamber into two distinctparts having no connection save for an opening16 through which the freezing fluid flows only when it reaches the topof the lower compartment thus formed. I also prefer to providea'transverse vertical partition 17 which,

divides the lower compartment in half and is located adjacent thethawing fluid inlet 18 so as to compel the said fluid to travel com-' 20'pletelyaround the mold-in order to reach the opening 16 which islocated adjacent the partition on the-side away from the inlet. Theoutlet 19 is located above the inlet 18 and, where the horizontalpartition is em-.

26 ployed, opens from the upper compartment of the auxiliary chamber.This arrangement necessitates the flow of the fluid completely aroundthe lower compartment,

which it fills, then rising into, the upper 30 compartment to the levelof the outlet, through which it flows to the return pipe. In flowingaround the, upper compartment "it may divide and flow bothways or maypossibly flow, wholly or chiefly in one direc tion. It will be notedthat the outlet 19 is diagonally opposite the inlet 18 or substantiallyso. This lengthens the path'of flow of the fluid.

The mold is strengthened and accuracy 40 secured by providing betweenthe wall 3 and space up to the top of the mold and over the auxiliarythawing chamber, closing it with the frame 5 which is equal in width tothe combined widths of the interior of the auxiliary thawing chamber,its wall Band the interior of the jacket 7. I

My invention also deals with the connec- .tion between the supply andreturn pipes .10, 11, 12 and 13 and the freezing jacket, and between thewarm supply and return 1 pipes 10 and 12 andthe auxiliary thawingchamber. Generally speaking the system for supplying freezing andthawing fluid asv brine is advantageously that described in my previousspecification above referred to and. more particularly that illustratedin Figs. 12 to 15. By this arrangement the freezing and thawing means ofeach mold is' connected by a pipe 20 to a warm supply header 10 and by apipe 21 to a warm return 1 header 12, and similarly by a pipe 22 to acold supply header 11 and by the pipe 23 to a cold return header -13,The-inlet and the outlet of the auxiliary thawing means of each mold isalso connected by pipes 251 and 25 respectively to warm supply headersl0-and to-warm return headers 12. In.

order to secure the desired results 'I must be able to feed either coldbrine or warm brine to the freezing jacket, as desired, without atanytime feeding cold brine to the auxiliary thawing jacket, and I must.also be able to feed warm brine tothe auxiliary thawing chamber at thesame time that I am feeding it to the freezing and thawing jacket. Ac-

trated (seev Figs. 5, 6 and 7) is shown in connection with the varioussupply pipes, but it will be evident that theconstruction of the returnvalve is precisely the same.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5,5 and 7, it will be seen that thesupply pipes 20, 22,

20 and the inlet pipe 24 are in communication with. a valve casing 26andare controlled by a valve body 27 in said casin This valve body has,the usual T-shapfl three-way assage 28, 28 which enables it to delivereit er cold or warni' brine to the freezing and thawing jacket or toshut off the supply of both and which is located in 'the same verticalplane as the supply pipes 20, 22.and 20. It. will be noted that theopening in the casing for the pipe 24 is in a difl'ere'ntvertical planefrom that of -the T- shaped three-way passage 28, 28 and of the openingfor the pipes 20, 22 and 20. It will be observed also thatthe body 27has a central longitudinal bore 29 and a transverse passage 30, whichlatter may be brought into registration with the pipe 2 1 being in thesame vertical plane therewith. The relative location of thesaidtransverse passage 30 and the three-way passage 28 is such that thetransverse passage is in registration with the pipe 24 when the pipes 20and 20' are in communication, and that-- the transverse passage 30 is atall other times out of registration with the pipe 24, thusmaking itimpossible for; cold, brine to be fed to the auxiliary "chamber. themold jacket is being served with frccz ing fluid, the plug is turnedtill the head 28 of the T-shaped three-way passage regislVhen eanna"?ters' with supply pipe 22, the other end of the head being closed by thevalve casing 26 and the. passagev 28 of the T-shaped three-way passageregisters with the inlet 1 pipe 20f. At the same time the transversepassage 30 moves out of registration with the pipe'Q l and .is closed bythe casing 26.

In the above descriptioml have considered the auxiliary chamber asdesigned to be warmed with brine or other fluid requiring a returnsystem-of piping. This I regard as the most desirable arrangement. Itis, however, possible to use air-and Where this is done no return systemis necessary, it being sufficient to provide a small air pipe betweenevery second row of molds, the-said pipe being connected to theauxiliary chambers, and the said chambers being provided with outlets tothe open air above the water level. These pipes would each supply tworows of cans. l/Vhereairis employed, it should be introduced at theupper part of the auxiliary chamber and the outlet should be locatedsatthe lower part, the purpose of this arrangement bein to prevent anymoisture carried 111 by tie warm air from condenslng and settling inthechamber and freezing there, which might eventually close the entirespace with ice; When the air is used in the way suggested any suchmoisture would be dischar ed. ateach thawing and the space left sustantially clear.

My invention deals also, as above suggested, with the means fordelivering cold or warm air to the bottom of the molds to assist infreezing and in thawing. Instead of locating the air supply pipes in thetank, as illustrated in my aforesaid application, ll locate them belowthe tank, the tank itself, the space in which the pipes areplaced, orthe pipes themselves being insulated. This enables me tosecure'individual control for the air delivering means for each mold, sothat the molds may be operated in this respect, well as in every other,as units, it being immaterial what is going on in any other mold so faras the mold inquestion is concerned. I have also improved the airdelivering nozzle. 31 is the cold air supply pipe and 32 the warm airsupply pipe, which arelocated in pairs under each line of molds. Thesepipes are connected to the iiulividual delivery pipes 34 by flexiblepipes 33, suitably of lead, to permit, without injury, the contractionand expansion which their use entails. The pipe 8% pro tected by a metalsheath 35 and by insulating material 36 of suitable composition. Thesheath is securely fastened to the bottom of the tank, the joint beingwater tight, and its upper end constitutes a pee forated cap or rose 37to which the pipe 3t delivers air and from which the air escapes to thebottom 38 of the mold in the spare eatending around the mold between theextension of the inner Wall 2 and the shell 39. Thence, as in theconstruction of my said application, it is led by the bridge 40 to apoint below the center of the mold and escaping through the perforationsin the bridge passes up through the water in the niold tlius performingthe double function of assisting in freezing the ice and agitating thewater. l/Vhile I have not shown any other means for agitating the waterin the molds, it will be apparent that I might also employ in additionjets of air or water. Three-way valves 41 having the dead. point, whenthe can is entirely out of service, to Ward the delivery pipe controlthe connections between the supply pipes and each individual deliverynozzle, the valves being turned to one side to admit cold air duringfreezing and to the other side to admit warm air during harvesting tothe delivery pipe and nozzle.- These improvements onable me to operatemy tank, however large, on the basis of the individual mold as a unit,and to so operate it both in freezing and in harvesting. It alsoobviates any possibility of diiliculty by reason of the cake stickingbecauseof ice formed beyond the normal freezing zone, whether above orbelow the said zone, and increases the rapidity of the thawingoperation. W'hile the formation of this ice might not be a seriousmatter, the ability to deal with this diiiiculty', should it arise, is afurther perfection of the system. l

I prefer to make the partition 15 of strips or bars, the opening 16being formed by stopping one or both bars adjacent the corner. I alsoprefer to utilize a similar block as the transverse partition 17,locating it adjacent one end of the partition 15. It will be understood,however, that I may employ a continuous partition having a hole throughit near the corner, as the partition 15 and may make it of sheet metal,and that I may locate the transverse partition 17 in the diagonal of thecorner, and may make it of sheet metal. While it is a very greatadvantage to connect the individual freezing and thawing means forindividual molds in parallel to the supply and return headers, theclaims are not all designed to be limited to this mode of connection.since series arrangements, though uiulesirable, are possible.Byreferring to the molds 'as open at the top, 1' do not oi? course meanto iu'iply that they may not have removable covers when their tops areaccessible.

What l claim as my invention is:

1. ice making apparatus comprising in con'ibination. a water tank,upright molds therein open at the top and in rormnunica- .tion with thetank at the bottom, individual 'fi'eezing and thawing means surroundingeach. mold, a system of pipes for handling inc cold fluid, a system ofpipes for handling \varm fluid, connections between said individualfreezing and thawing means and both the hot and the cold system,individual auxiliary thawing means beyond the freezing zone of eachmold, and connections between saidauxiliary thawing means and saidsystem of pipes for handling the Warm fluid.

2. Ice makingapparatus comprising in combination, a water tank, uprightmolds submerged. therein open at the top and in communication with thetank at the bottom, individual freezing and thawingmeans surroundingeach mold, a system of pipes for handling cold fluid, a system of pipesfor handling warm fluid, connections between said individual means andboth the hot and the cold system, individual auxiliary thawing meanssurrounding each mold and extending up from the top of the'freezing andthawingmeans, and connections between said auxiliary thawing means andsaid system of pipes for handling the warm fluid.

3. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a water tank, aplurality of upright molds submerged therein open at the top and incommunication therewith at the bottom, said molds being provided withfreezing and thawing jackets constituting the normal freezing zone,means for intro ducing cold or warm fluid to said jackets and forreturning it, therefrom, auxiliarythawing jackets for each mold abovethe normal freezing zone and having no com-1 munication with the jacketconstituting said? zone, and connections between said'auxiliary thawingjacket and the means for supplying:

warm fluid.

4. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a water tank, uprightmolds submerged therein open at the top and in communication with thetank at the bottom, freezing and thawing means for said molds, pipingand connections for introducing cold or ,warm fluid" to said freezingand thawing means andfor returning it therefrom, auxiliarythawingjackets extending up from' the top of said freezing and thawingmeans and having an inlet and an outlet on oppo-; site sides of the moldand at different levels, and means for supplying warm fluid to saidthawing jackets.

5. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a water tank, aplurality of upright molds submerged therein, open at the top and incommunication therewith at the bottom, said molds being provided withfreezing and thawing jackets constituting the normal freezing zone,means for intro-l ducing cold or warm? fluid to said jackets and forreturning it-therefrom, auin'liary thawing jackets for each mold abovethe normal freezing zone and having no communication with the jacketconstituting said combination, a water zone, a dead air jacket above theauxiliary thawing jacket, means for supplying warm fluid to saidauxiliary thawing jackets, and devices forvcontrolling said means.

6. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a watertank, aplurality of up;

right molds submerged therein, open at thetop and in communicationtherewith at the bottom, individual freezing and thawing meanssurrounding said molds, cold fluid supply and return pipes, warm fluidsupply and return pipes, auxiliary thawing jackets independent of saidfreezing and thawing means and located adjacent the tops thereof, ahorizontal partition in said auxiliary thawing ackets having an openingtherein, and

dividing the auxiliary thawing jacket into an upper and a lower'compartment, an inlet to the lower compartmentand an outlet from theupper compartment, connections between the freezing and thawing meansand both the cold fluid and warm fluid supply and return pipes,connections between the warm 1 fluid supply pipe and the said inlet, andconnections betweenthe said outlet and the warm fluid return pipe. v

7. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a water tank, aplurality of up right molds submerged therein, open'at the top and incommunication therewith atthe bottom, individual freezing and thawingmeans surrounding said molds. cold fluid supply and return pipes, warmfluid supply and return pipes, auxiliary thawing jackets jiiidependentof said freezing and thawing means and located adjacent the tops there-,of, a horizontal partition in said auxiliary thawing jackets having anopening therein,

and dividing tlie auxiliary jacket into an upper and a lowercompartment, an inlet to the lower compartment and an outlet from theupper compartment, a transverse partition in the lower compartmentdividing it into two parts and located between the inlet and, theopening, -conne ctions between the freezing and thawing means and boththe cold fluid and warm fluid supply and return pipes, connectionsbetween the warm fluid supply pipe and the said inlet, and'connec tionsbetween the said outlet and the warm fluid return pipe.

8. Ice making apparatus comprising in tank, upright molds submergedtherein open at the top and in communication therewith'at the bottom,in-

dividual freezing and thawing means surrounding each mold andconstituting the normal freezing zone therefor, individual auxiliarythawing means above the upper limit of said freezing zone, supply andreturn pipes for cold fluid, supply and return pipes for warm fluid,connections between said individual freezing and thawing means and apair of cold fluid supply and return pipes and between said means and apair of warm .fluid supply and return pipes, and

i canes? connections between said auxiliary thawing means and a warmfluid supply pipe and a warm fluid return pipe.

9.- Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a Water tank,upright molds submerged therein open at the top and in communicationtherewith at the bottom, individual freezing and thawing meanssurrounding each mold and constituting the normal freezing zonetherefor, individual auxiliary thawing means above the upper limit ofsaid freezing zone, supply and return pipes for cold fluid, supply andreturn pipes for warm fluid, connections between said individualfreezing and thawing means "and a pair of cold fluid supply and returnpipes and between said means and a pair of warm fluid supply and returnpipes, connections between said auxiliary thawing means and a warm fluidsupply pipe and a warm fluid return pipe, said connections beinggrouped, and meanslbcated in said grouped connections for simultaneouslycontrolling them. I

10. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a water tank,upright molds submerged therein open at the top and in communicationtherewith at the bottom,

said molds being provided with freezing and thawing means constitutingthe normal freezing zone, pipes for conveying cold fluid, pipes forconveying warm fiuid, individual auxiliary thawing chambers adjacent thetops of said freezing and thawing zones, connections between pipes forconveying cold fluid and said freezing and thawing means and betweenpipes for conveying warm fluid and said freezing and thawing means,connections between pipes for conveying warm fluid and said auxiliarythawing chambers, and valves in said con necti'ons having the structureof an ord1-- nary threeway valve to control the connec tion between apipe conveying warm fluid, a pipe conveying cold fluid and one of thefreezing and thawing means and having a transverse passage incommunication with the three-way openings and located to control theconnections between a pipe for conveying warm fluid and one of theauxiliary thawing chambers, said transverse passage being so placed withreference to the three way openings of the valve as to prevent coldfluid from being. at any time delivered to the auxiliary thawing chamberWhile permitting warm or cold fluid to be delivered at will to thefreezing or thawing chamber and warm fluid to be deliveredsimultaneously to both the freezing and thawing means and the auniliarythawing chamber.

11. In ice making apparatus and in a.

mold having a freezing and thawing jacket, an al'xxiliary thawing acketseparate from said freezing and thawing acket ad acent the upper limitof the same, and a dead air chamber above said auxiliary thawingchamber.

, l2. lin ice maklng apparatus and in a -mo'ld having a freezing andthawing jacket iliary thawing chamber adjacent the upper end of thefreezing and thawing jacket, a horizontal partition dividing saidchamber into two parts, an inlet to one part of said chamber thusdivided and an outlet from the other part, and a transverse partitiondividing the lower part oi the chamber into two parts, said partitionbeing located adjacent the opening in the lower part of the chamber, thehorizontal partition having an opening therethrough on the side of thetransverse partition away from the opening in the lower part of thechamber.

14:, in ice making apparatus, a mold having a freezing and thawingjacket, an auxiliary thawing jacket separate from saidv liver airthereto, connections between said supply pipes and said nozzles, andmeans for controlling the delivery of air to supply warm air to thebottoms of certain molds while cold air is being supplied to the bottoms of certain other molds.

16. Ice making apparatus comprising in (KOIUblIlRtlOIl, a water tank, aplurality of upright molds receiving water therefrom open at the top andin. communication there with at the bottom, said molds being providedwith freezing and thawing means individual to each mold, and withbottoms having a hole themthrough, cold air supply I pipes and warm airsupply pipes located outside the tank, 111 supply nozzles within thetank and located adjacent the bottoms of the molds to deliver airthereto, connections between a cold air supply pipe and a warm airsupply pipe and each of said nozzles, and valves in said connections forcontrolling, each individual nozzle irrespective ofany other.

17. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a water tank, aplurality of upright molds submerged therein open at the top and incommunication therewith at the bottom, freezing" means for said molds, 1said molds having bottoms provided with downwardly extending wallsforming an open bottomed air trapping space, air supply pipes, airdelivering nozzles located below said bottoms to deliver air to saidspaces and comprising a metal sheath secured by water tight connectionto the bottom of the tank, an air pipe attached thereto, and insulationbetween said sheath and pipe said sheath being provided with a deliveryrose, connections between said supply pipes, and delivery nozzles, andmeans for controlling the same.

18. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a water tank, aplurality of cate molds therein open at the top and in commolds todeliver air to the spaces above.

mentioned, flexible connections between a cold air supply pipe and awarm air supply pipe and each of said nozzles, and valves in saidconnections for controlling each. 'individual, nozzle irrespective ofany other.

'19. In ice making app aratus, an air delivering nozzle comprising anair delivery pipe, a metal sheath therefor having air deliveringperforations, and insulation between said sheath and pipe.

20. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, awat-er tank, aplurality of upright molds receiving water therefromopen at the top and'in communication therewith at the bottom, and having bottoms providedwith downwardly extending walls forming an open bottomed air trappingspace,-cold air supply pipes, warm air supply pipes, delivery pipes forsupplying cold or warm air to said spaces, separate connections betweeneach delivery pipe and two of said suppl .pipes, said supply pipes beingoutside sai tankandmeans in said connections for controlling thedelivery of air to supply warm air to the bottoms of some molds whilecold air is being supplied to the bottoms of other molds.

21. Ice making apparatus comprising in Cpipes and warm air supply pipes10- combination,-a Water tank, a pluralit of upright molds receivingwater thererom open at thetop and in communication therewith at thebottom, and having bottoms provided with downwardly extending wallsforming an open bottomed air trapping space, cold air supply pipes, warmair supply pipes, delivery pipes for supplying cold or warm air to saidspaces, connections between each delivery pipe and two of said supplypipes, and a valve in each such connection to control each delivery pipeindividually independently of any other;

22. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a water tank,upright molds submerged therein open at the top and in communicationwith the tank at the bottom, freezing jackets surrounding individualmolds, auxiliary thawing means he yond the upper and lower limits ofsaid freezing and thawing jacket, piping for supplying fluid to saidfreezing jackets and to said thawing means, and devices for controllingsaid piping.

23.Ice making apparatus comprising in combination a water tank, uprightmolds submerged therein open at the top and in communication therewithat the. bottom,

freezing 111821115 for individual molds, sys- 5 terms of piping forsupplying cold and warm fluid, auxiliary thawing means beyond the upperand lower limits of said freezing and thawing means, connections betweenthe freezing means and the system of piping for supplying cold fluid andthe system of pi ing forsupplying warm fluid,

connections etw'een said auxiliary thawing means, and a system of pipingfor 'sup ly ing warm-fluid, and devicesfor control ing' saidconnections.

24. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a water tank,upright molds submerged therein open at the top and having bottoms incommunication with the tank by means of a hole therethrough, individualfreezing and thawing means for, each mold, auxiliary thawingchambersabove the freezing and thawing means of each mold, devices fordelivering warm or cold air to the bottoms'of individual molds, coldfluid supply pipes and'warm fluid supply pipes, connections between thefreezing and thawing zones and the cold and warm fluid supply pipes, andconnections between the warm fluid supply pipes and the auxiliarythawing chambers, cold air supply pipes, warm air supply pipes,connections between said pipes and the air delivering devices forindividual molds, and controlling means in both the kinds of connectionsspecified to enable each mold to betreated in the freezing and thawingprocesses as an independent unit. I

'25. Ice making apparatus comprising in limit of said freezing zone,supply and re-' turn pipes for cold fluid, supply and return pipes forwarm fluid, connections betweensaid individual freezing and thawingmeans and a pair of cold fluid supply and return pipesand' between saidmeans and a pair of warm fluid supply and return pipes, connectionsbetween said auxiliarythawing means and a warm fluid supply pipe and awarm fluid return pipe, said connections being grouped, and a valve insaid grouped connections for admitting cold fluid to the freezing andthawing means While excluding it from the auxiliary thawing means andfor admitting warm fluid simultaneously to the freezing and thawingmeans and to the auxiliary thawing means while excluding cold fluid fromboth.

26. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination,' a water tank, aplurality of upright freezing molds submerged therein open at the'to-pand in communication there with at the bottom, auxiliary thawingchambers individual to each mold and located above the upper limit ofthenormal freezing zone, a system for circulating thawing fluidconnections between said auxiliary thawing chamber and system, anddevices for controlling said connections. a

27. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, .a water tank, aplurality of upright molds submerged therein open at the top andin-communication therewith at the bottom, freezing and thawing meansindividual to each mold, individual auxiliary thawing means adjacent thetop of said freezing and thawing means, a system for circulatingfreezing fluid and thawing fluid, connections ,between said system andsaid freezing and thawing means and between said system and saidauxiliary thawing means, and devices for simultaneously varying saidconnections to enable one part of the apparatus to be subjected tofreezing while another is being subjected to thawing.

28. Ice making apparatus com risingin combination, a water tank, aplurality of upright molds therein, individual freezing and thawingdevices for each mold, individual auxiliary thawing means adjacent thetop of said freezing and thawing devices, a freezing fluid supplyand'return system, a thawing fluid supply and return system, connectionsbetween each of said individual freezing and thawing devices and bothsaid systems, piping connecting each. of said auxiliary thawing devicesto the said connections of the corresponding freezing and thawingdevices, and valves in each of said connections governing the same andsaid piping to control each individual mold at will independently of anyother.

29. In icemaking apparatus, a mold having a freezing and thawvingjacket,an aux iliary thawing jacket above said freezing and thawing jacket, adead air jacket outside said other two jackets, and spacing plateswithin said dead air jacket having a thick ness equal to theinteriorthereof, extending past parts of said other two jackets, andcontaining openings communicating with the interiors of said otherjackets.

30. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a water tank,upright molds receiving water therefrom and in communicationtherewith attheir bottoms, freezing and thawing means for said molds constitutingthe normal freezing zone therefor, individual closed auxiliary thawingchambers beyond the normal freezing zone, and means for deliveringthawing fluid to said auxiliary chambers.

31. Ice making apparatus comprising in combination, a water tank, aplurality. of uprightvmolds receiving water therefrom and incommunication with said tank at their bottoms, freezing and thawingjackets for said molds, an auxiliary thawing chamber beyond the normalfreezing zone, means for delivering freezing fluid or thawing fluid tothe freezing and thawing jacket, means for delivering thawing fluid tosaid auxiliary thawing chamber, and a valve simultaneously controllingboth the said means.

32.1w making apparatus comprising in combination, a water tank, aplurality of up right molds in communication at their bottoms therewith,freezing and thawing'jackets for said molds, auxiliary thawing chambersbeyond the freezing zone, freezing fluid supply and return pipes,thawing fluid supply and return ipes, connections bet-ween said freezingan thawing jackets and freezing and thawing supply. and return pipes,connections between said auxiliary thawing chambers and thawing supplyand return pipes, the supply connections being grouped andthe returnconnections being grouped, and'a valve in each group of connectionscontrolling the same.

Signed by me this9th day of June, 1910.

EDWARD THOMPSON WILLIAMS. Vvitnesses HARRY T. BERNHARD, JENNIE DUPREE.

